Jordan-Tunisia Economic Forum highlights developments in investment field

AMMAN — The Jordanian Businessmen Association (JBA) on Saturday launched the Jordan-Tunisia Economic Forum.

“Jordan is accessible to both Arab and countries from around the world through a number of trade agreements,” JBA President Hamdi Tabbaa said, adding that the Jordan Investment Commission (JIC) now has a “clear vision to attract investment and stabilise legislation for that purpose”, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported. 

“Even though Jordan and Tunis are signatories in the Greater Arab Free Trade Agreement and the Agadir Agreements, the volumes of bilateral trade and investment fall short of the two countries’ expectations and do not reflect their respective capabilities,” Tabbaa added. 

The JBA president invited stakeholders in the Tunisian private sector to explore Jordan’s investment opportunities, particularly those offered by economic sectors of high added value. 

JIC Chairman Khaled Wazani said the commission seeks to develop and structure procedures that enhance the Kingdom’s investment environment in cooperation with partners from both the private and public sectors. 

Three international reports have highlighted the growth of Jordan’s investment environment, including the World Bank’s “Ease of Doing Business Report”, in which Jordan’s ranking rose 29 places this year.

Wazani announced that 50 carefully studied investment opportunities across the Kingdom will be announced within the next 10 days, covering various economic sectors. 

The JIC chairman noted that a unit within the JIC has been commissioned with following up on investor affairs and grievances. 

For his part, President of the Confederation of Tunisian Citizen Enterprises Conect Tarak Cherif said that the volume of trade exchange between the two countries amounted to JD101 million last year, compared with JD86 million in 2017, marking a 16 per cent increase.